Zacchaeous.

Outlawed by being ignored or a socially rejected person?

Sometimes I wished I had a more detailed Gospel. It would give me a more exact idea on how certain things were, allowing less room to wrong speculative ideas that might ill bias better interpretations.

Luke 19:2 said he was rich and a tax officer (Publican).

His personal name probably meant “pure”, although he was considered, by Jewish ppl, “something” repugnant and ugly, as a vomit...

What a contradiction! His Aramaic named was intended for “pure” or “clean”, and he was seen like an outlawed dog. (No doubt! He seized their money to give it to the Roman Gov.)

If he was given anything worth noticing, his job made him to be rejected. If he said anything good, the opinion widely expressed about him and his duty will prevail against him (probably against his family).

I have no way to see how he grew.

Let´s see if he was also too short at school, many ppl played bad jokes on him. I have no idea on the times he was hurt, scolded or muck-uped but, one day, he thought: “They will repay me for this wrong”. Have you ever lived anything like playing the fool?

I laughed at too many ppl I can remember. I hurt too much ppl I don´t want to remember those things I did wrong and, happily, they “forgot” several things I did… Some of them revenged what I did in those mockeries…

If they were gifted, I pointed out at his lacks and defects. If they were bound to be admired or loved, I tried to make them looked like fools…

I´m ashamed of what I did: I was a clown in primary school (Oh! Yes! Some will pick a stone to throw them now: Go on!)

Zacchaeous was loved by their dad and mom. They gave them a good name but, a physical “defect” spoiled his “future”, for a short period of time…

He grew up being hurt. He had a revenge pending and, when Romans gave him “his time” he did what he knew how to do: Worked to be hidden in his job, just to COMPENSATE what he lacked: Public respect, public recognition, and honor?

He was loyal, honorable at the job he received from conquerers. He coped with those who won all those who have been hurting his feelings, those who laughed at him, at school and when he tied to pick a girlfriend. I wish I knew how many girlfriends despised him for being too short or ugly (so he worked HARD to get money, to buy a place in society and, to buy a wife?) God knows! (I know nothing).

Wealth has given some ppl confidence to get what they were denied.

Wealth has bought “friends”, but not real love.

I know nothing about Zacchaeous, but I know whom I have hurt, and how they have dealt with their social and emotional situations…

We don´t know if Zacchaeous had a hump. Just imagine if he had bad friends around, making him so miserable and socially rejected. I don´t want to think he had a visible physical defect (The picture of being seen -like a dog- is disgusting, enough, just for me).

Jesus came to visit the place he lived. He had heard about Him a lot (like Herod probably heard). The crowds, their tumult and individualism ignored him the more, particularly at one important historical moment like that.

Those who knew him closely, behaved like they behaved and Zacchaeous could not see the Lord´s walk. What a pity! The town voiced “He has come” but He could not see Him.

Zacchaeous was NOT a fool and, additionally, he knew that town and wasn´t a lame to wait for another´s ppl help. He ran and ran, until the moment he saw a tree and climbed above it (we don´t know what any ppl did the moment he tried to have a gaze on Jesus). Who would have laughed -at him- the moment our Lord Jesus came to visit our towns? (Not me, sure)

As much as I have heard, some ppl became good at certain things to compensate deficiencies. Zacchaeous became good… At Math? (to hid himself? To get money? To win social respect?) He probably knew he wasn´t really accepted, socially. (How come he would develop “normal” social abilities, if he was denied of such “normal” learning when being too hurt at his youth?)

When I looked at Lk19:2-3 I know how he “won” more money... When John the Baptist saw the Publicans, he rebuked them not to ask more that it was needed (Lk 3:13). What type of a man Zacchaeous was? You know, but I don´t.

He was unpopular. He was known, but unpopular as he could be.

His name wasn´t fitting to the hatred meaning he won (as being mean, too?).

Jesus saw him as if Zacchaeous was His close friend. What a social contrast!

Jesus called him by his Pure name, by a sound and familiar friendly tone and I wish I could see ppl´s faces. Did Jesus knew him?

“Hey!... I want to eat with you tonight!...” Jesus said (Lk 19:5)

Excited, that short man jumped inside Himself: “Jesus knows me BY NAME...” “How come? It´s just the 1^st time I see Him...”

He rushed as fast as he could: “Get the house ready! The Lord Jesus comes to visit my roof… Hurry! Hurry! Get more room for those who came with Him”

Jesus did not talked to him like an innkeeper, but as a real and close friend... What was the exact emotional shock felt by those who hated Zacchaeous?

I wish I knew how a mean man was changed instantly.

If he had those feelings of remorse, those days he was -possibly- hurt and mocked: I wish I knew how Jesus´ love changed his heart in few hours…

“I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.” (Lk 19:8)

I wish I would be changed instantly, too.

When Zacchaeous talked about giving back fourfold any amount he was thinking (or quoting) from Exo. 22:1 or 2 Sam. 12:6

Was he a man of the law?

If he wasn´t, why was he treated like an outlawed?

I don´t want to know how old he was. I don´t want to think what he did to get a wife and his household: He worked, and worked…

I didn´t want to mention the times he thought: “They will repay me” but, I´m sure they repaid him, with their money.

The could not be bigger as he -probably- thought he needed to be “normal” (Lk 12:25), so he grew another way he got.

Could you add anything you lacked or wanted in your life?

I don´t know how Jesus made Zacchaeous feel he had a friend but, he probably felt loved.

We don´t know what Jesus preached about when He visited Zacchaeous house, but I´m sure He always talked and preached on His lessons.

Did Jesus preach about poverty or giving the need? Did the Lord spoke about those economic need Zacchaeous had when he was a kid, growing as porr as he was (if he was rich before being an adult, I doubt he would have chosen to work for the Roman government, their conquerers).

Did you ever wanted to be tall to be seen or admired by those who probably ignored you? I know there are by guys who wanted to be short, by the way (tall ppl are also muckered for being oddly bent, beyond the standard “normality” says things ought to be).

If you ever wanted to be tall to get your scholarship in a college playing in their basketball team I would understand many things (because I wanted to be a musician for wrong reasons). ;)

If you wanted to be “another” way I also understand that, because I also have had my own thoughts and grew with them. :D

But, how many Zacchaeous were hit with “jokes” by me (and you)?

I don´t know how things went afterwards a Publican gave up half of his money to the needy...

Jesus was gone but, Zacchaeous pure name was blessed by the honor he lacked: “...you are a true son of Abraham.”

Am I behaving like an adoptive son of God?

Let´s see how we are when picking persons to be with:

• Is he rich enough to be with him?
• What type of church she goes to?
• How many years he has attended my club?
• Is he (she) attending Yale or the MIT?
• How many friends he actually has?
• How he got that car: Was it bought or given?
• Is she divorced? (And why?)
• How many strings he / she has with family aprons?
• What are his goal (or family goals)?

Oh! He is too secular… He doesn´t look like me. :P

Israel wanted a tall king, but he wasn´t big enough (I Sam 10:22).

Samuel, himself, was prone to chose the wrong “profile” to pick a king for them (I Sam 16:7)

Zacchaeous had the social rejection our sins also deserve, but Jesus visit turned his past life into a blessing.

Those who criticized Jesus decision to be lodged at Zacchaeous´ house, also showed they were misbiased with their set and wrong opinions: They looked at a man´s outside, but not what was deep in his heart…

Did Zacchaeous love to be seated in the higher places and positions?

Did he long to have more money that the rich ppl he knew?

When he attended the synagogue, what was his current role there?

Jesus visited him -during his lifespan- to make it known he was also loved by being one heir of God´s promises: “...a true son of Abraham.”

Zacchaeous was approached by God not the moment he was greeted by the Lord Jesus but, the moment he grew from the inside out.

Many men need public recognition to be seen, to feel admire (and to manipulate ppl´s minds). Many of them chose to serve in the military service to be dressed with the glory other private SOLDIERS gave up with their blood (and the bravery no one can give those uniforms they want to get, without honors).

Was that men´s glory Zacchaeous sought before He met Jesus? (Jn 12:23)

Some people want to be covered up with the glory of a flag they never worked for, just to feel they are part of “something”, belonging to nothing; but -these- also could be greeted by the love of God.

Jesus´ visible approval was spontaneous and, at the same time, undeserved. His public salutation and comments made Zacchaeous to feel excited, and flattered, in one single day.

Do you know how Jesus healed that man? With His love. :)

“...For that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” (Lk 16:15)

Zacchaeous simply had the hope to see Him, at distance but, instead, God´s plans -in Jesus- were quite different to what he thought it could be: He was utterly blessed by giving up the load of sins he discharged.

                   In His service.

                                                A. Toro